Molecular breeding can make better bitter olives
Olives, well-known for their characteristic bitter taste, are in high demand owing to the popularity of the oil they produce. The health benefits of olive oil are well known, ranging from antiviral, anti-cancer, to even anti-hypertensive effects. The.....»»
Study reveals ERK activity is a molecular switch between scarring and tissue regeneration
Why do some animals regenerate lost tissues after injury while others don't? Researchers from the lab of Kerstin Bartscherer (Osnabrück University and formerly Hubrecht Institute) and Ashley Seifert (University of Kentucky) studied spiny mice, which.....»»
A highly precise terahertz molecular clock
In recent years, many physicists worldwide have introduced atomic clocks, systems to measure the passing of time that are based on quantum states of atoms. These clocks can have numerous valuable applications, for instance in the development of satel.....»»
Early-nesting ducks at increased risk due to changes in climate, land use
Each year approximately 10 million waterfowl fly north to their breeding grounds in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, but the landscape that greets them has changed. Weather patterns and agricultural practices have significantly transforme.....»»
New phenotyping approach analyzes crop traits at the 3D level
The steady decline in cultivable land owing to the rapidly increasing global population has necessitated the use of efficient plant breeding methods that could be used to improve agricultural yields. However, in addition to genetic methods, we need a.....»»
This dirt parking lot in the San Gabriel Mountains is a magnet for migrating birds
The San Gabriel Mountains loom like an impregnable fortress for millions of migrating birds making their long and perilous journey to distant breeding grounds in the far north......»»
New breeding program produces purple tomatoes with high anthocyanin content
In 2011 Jim Myers did something no one had done before. The Oregon State University vegetable breeder released the first purple tomato containing the same healthy compound found in blueberries......»»
Scientists realize light-driven programmable colloidal self-assembly
Prof. Peng Chenhui's team from the School of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), realized the collective transfer and reconfigurable self-assembly of colloidal particles by combining the light-driven molecular motors with l.....»»
Reinforcement learning: From board games to protein design
Scientists have successfully applied reinforcement learning to a challenge in molecular biology. The team of researchers developed powerful new protein design software adapted from a strategy proven adept at board games like Chess and Go. In one expe.....»»
Sea level rises could threaten sea turtle breeding grounds
Sea level rises could lead to the flooding of sea turtle breeding grounds in Australia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and the U.S., according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The findings suggest that flooding could contribute to the loss.....»»
Researchers shed new light on the motor of DNA replication
DNA replication is the process whereby cells make an exact copy of their DNA before cell division. A key part of the intricate DNA replication machinery is a molecular motor called CMG, which has the vital task of separating the two strands of the DN.....»»
Study proves compatibility of two fundamental principles of quantum theory
Quantum theory, which was formulated in the first three decades of the twentieth century, describes a wide array of phenomena at the molecular, atomic and subatomic scales. Among its many technological applications, three have become ubiquitous in da.....»»
Chicken breeding in Japan dates back to fourth century BCE
Conclusive evidence of chicken breeding in the Yayoi period of Japan has been discovered from the Karako-Kagi site......»»
Molecular module coordinates plant cell wall formation and adaptive growth
The plant cell walls represent the cellular basis for plant architecture and constitute the major component of plant biomass. Formation of multiple agronomic traits, e.g., plant height and mechanical force, largely depends upon orderly deposition of.....»»
Tracing the migration path of painted lady butterflies across Africa
An international research team in search of painted lady butterfly breeding grounds in Africa has published the results of years of fieldwork. In the paper, "The Afrotropical breeding grounds of the Palearctic-African migratory painted lady butterfli.....»»
Researchers defend their theory that molecular oxygen existed on Earth 2.5 billion years ago
When did molecular oxygen, the gas that all large and complex forms of life on Earth today require to function, first appear on Earth?.....»»
Using a new technique, PESI/MS/MS, to analyze the nutritional compounds in crops
Anthocyanins are compounds related to the color of plants. They also have beneficial effects on human health and are used as a supplement. Various species of anthocyanins, divided by their molecular shape, are present in plants. Therefore, simple, an.....»»
New evidence that eastern wolves evolved separately from gray wolves
A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution provides interesting new evidence about the evolution of North American wolves, which has been a subject of debate among conservationists and taxonomists......»»
Examining early grain development in bread wheat
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a pivotal staple food crop, providing about 20% of calories consumed by humans. Grain weight is one of the three factors of wheat yield, and also the key index of wheat breeding for high yield. During grain devel.....»»
Targeting ATP synthase with chromium (III) nutritional supplement for improved blood sugar control
A research team led by Professor Hongzhe Sun from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, has published a paper titled "Mitochondrial ATP synthase as a direct molecular target of chromium(III) to ameliorate hyper.....»»
Neuron movements shown to be caused by push, pull of motor proteins
Neurons, which are responsible for producing the signals that ultimately trigger an action such as talking or moving a muscle, are built and maintained by classes of motor proteins that transport molecular cargo along elongated tracks called microtub.....»»